Chapter 7: Prey

Bo Xunong’s eyes fluttered rapidly as joy welled up in her heart.

She saw it clearly—Shen Yanting’s gaze had skipped over Feng Jin and landed on her. So that remark about passing by was meant for her ears alone, not as a response to Feng Jin.

Whether Shen Yanting was lying or not was no longer important. What mattered was that the words were spoken just for her.

Bo Xunong’s mood instantly soared. Even the frustration of running into Shen Yanting here, with no chance to press Guan Caimei for answers, vanished completely. A brilliant smile lit up her warm, soft features, leaving Feng Yingbo at her side green with envy.

Feng Yingbo walked over and rapped Feng Jin hard on the forehead, saying with clear dissatisfaction, “Jin’er, can’t you learn a thing or two from your Eldest Senior Sister? Try speaking to Master with a gentler tone. I’ve always treated you no worse than Senior Sister Shen treats Xuenong—why do you always yell at me like that?”

“I didn’t.”

Feng Yingbo wasn’t about to let Feng Jin off easily. Her slender fingers kept poking at Feng Jin’s forehead. “Oh, you didn’t? Master just heard it herself. Why can you speak so nicely to Senior Sister Shen, but get all impatient and loud with me?”

Feng Jin rubbed her forehead in frustration and shot a fierce glare at Guan Caimei, who was lounging on the bed and watching the show.

Bo Xunong didn’t follow Feng Jin’s gaze. She had no interest in dealing with Guan Caimei right now. But Guan Caimei’s inner voice soon drifted her way, impossible to ignore.

【My new master is such an idiot, actually wanting her disciple to learn from Bo Xunong. That disciple’s temperament is already awful enough—after picking up tricks from Bo Xunong, those two will probably destroy the Imperial Serenity Sect long before the Nether Gate Sect even lifts a finger! I thought the Imperial Serenity Sect only had one lunatic in Bo Xunong. Who knew there was Feng Jin too? Is there something wrong with this sect’s feng shui? Damn it! If I could beat this brat right now, I’d make her pay. All I did that day was compliment Feng Yingbo’s looks, and she came at me swinging. But hey, blessing in disguise—I ended up with a pretty master! Weird, though. Feng Yingbo isn’t on the Immortal Venerable’s level of stunning, but she’s still top-tier beauty. Given the author’s habits, a beauty like her dying before even meeting the male lead? What a shame!】

Guan Caimei was as noisy as ever, spouting nothing but nonsense.

That long string of inner thoughts had barely any substance.

A few days ago, she was lusting after Shen Yanting. Today, she was singing Feng Yingbo’s praises.

Bo Xunong tilted her head slightly to look at Feng Yingbo, who was currently scolding her own disciple. She rarely paid much attention to anyone’s looks besides Shen Yanting’s, and even if she glanced a few extra times, it never stuck. But thanks to Guan Caimei’s reminder today, she realized Feng Yingbo was actually quite attractive—though still far below Shen Yanting, of course.

Feng Yingbo lacked Shen Yanting’s aloof nobility. She was petite, especially in height—only a head taller than ten-year-old Feng Jin. Her features were delicate and scholarly, with no hint of her nascent soul grade cultivation, nor any oppressive aura.

Even when disciplining her disciple, she lacked any real authority. It was more like… coquetry.

Bo Xunong found it utterly inappropriate. A true master should command both awe and reverence, inspiring love and fear in equal measure—like Shen Yanting.

Bo Xunong had her own rigid standards for master-disciple relationships, and by those measures, Feng Yingbo was far from qualified. Strangely, though, as she watched Feng Yingbo interact with Feng Jin, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

While observing, she pondered the deeper meaning in Guan Caimei’s other words. From the inner voice, it seemed Guan Caimei only knew her and Shen Yanting in the Imperial Serenity Sect. Most likely, that book she kept mentioning was written from the male lead’s perspective, with no details on their lives here—so she didn’t recognize Feng Yingbo or Feng Jin.

Yet that day, she had said Feng Jin was the one who should have come down the mountain to fetch them… So the book probably just glossed over Feng Yingbo, maybe mentioning in passing that the Imperial Serenity Sect fell to the Nether Gate Sect, with Feng Yingbo dying in battle.

Why would the Nether Gate Sect, one of the Three Great Sects, bother with a small sect like the Imperial Serenity Sect?

Unless it was aimed at Shen Yanting? As the prized disciple of the Cloud Smoke Sect Master—one of the top Three Great Sects—she could easily have made enemies in the Nether Gate Sect. Talented people often drew envy, and it was only natural for someone as exceptional as her master to attract hatred. But… they all had to die.

The list of people she wanted dead was growing.

If they were enemies, her master probably wouldn’t mind if she took action.

Bo Xunong pressed her wrist, barely suppressing her smile. She continued listening to Guan Caimei’s inner voice, which was veering further off track. Her gaze had long since shifted back to Shen Yanting.

【The Immortal Venerable is still the best-looking! That face is perfection! A gorgeous face like that—if only it were mine! Who wouldn’t want to see the High Mountain Flower brought low? Shen Yanting looks so cold and ascetic, but what must she be like in bed? If the male lead can’t have her, I definitely can! Too bad she’s so strong—probably at the divine transformation realm by now. I’m only at core formation. Maybe I should team up with the male lead! He’d fall for this face for sure. If I negotiate terms upfront, he might even share the Immortal Venerable out of pride! That’d feel amazing.】

Guan Caimei’s gaze on Shen Yanting was greedy and burning—not like looking at a senior from the same sect, but like eyeing prey.

Not only did she covet her master, she wanted to team up with others to defile her.

She deserved to die!

Bo Xunong could no longer maintain her gentle smile. It froze bit by bit, her eyes growing dangerous. Afraid Shen Yanting would notice, she quickly turned away—only for Feng Jin to catch it full-on.

The sharp, icy glare made Feng Jin shudder. Her long-absent inner voice resurfaced.

【Oh god! That look is terrifying! Did Eldest Senior Sister really hold a grudge against Feng Yingbo? Does she know Feng Yingbo beat her at chess? No way! Ah… maybe I should head to Frugal Hollow and dig up those forbidden technique manuals to practice… Learn a couple of concealment spell arts. Then I can run off with Feng Yingbo… She’s so stubborn, though. If she finds out Bo Xunong wants her dead, she’ll probably demand answers. Will she even run with me…?】

【Heh, no, she won’t.】

!!!

Wait—she heard two voices!

Ever since realizing she could hear Feng Jin’s inner voice, Bo Xunong listened with utmost care, never missing a word. Feng Jin’s thoughts were still fragmented, but that final “won’t” was different in tone from Feng Jin’s voice. It was much colder, lacking Feng Jin’s usual timidity and fear.

Why was Feng Jin producing two inner voices? Why did hers keep vanishing sporadically?

Bo Xunong’s thoughts grew chaotic. Her gaze swept over Guan Caimei, then settled into cold clarity with a single burning intent: Kill! Kill her!

Unable to contain her killing intent, she dodged Shen Yanting’s gaze as best she could.

Shen Yanting still noticed the anomaly. She gently placed a hand on Bo Xunong’s shoulder. “Xuenong, what’s wrong?”

Bo Xunong grabbed Shen Yanting’s hand in return, pleading softly, “Master, I want to go back. Will you come with me?”

Guan Caimei’s inner voice droned on. Bo Xunong wasn’t sure she could hold back if she kept listening. Nor did she want Shen Yanting lingering here under Guan Caimei’s predatory stare. The best solution was to take her and leave together.

She hoped Shen Yanting wouldn’t refuse.

At least… not today.

Bo Xunong always treated Shen Yanting like a deity, offering incense thrice daily in her mind. Let alone taking the initiative to hold her hand—even speaking to her required a formal bow. Today’s behavior was out of character.

Shen Yanting looked at the hand clinging tightly to hers and nodded. “Alright.”